Protoss Civil War
the schism over the Dark Templar
The Protoss Civil War was an internal conflict that erupted on Aiur as the zerg overran the world, pitting Tassadar and his Dark Templar allies against the Conclave. It coincided with the Fall of Aiur and ended when Tassadar destroyed the Overmind.
The Protoss Civil War was an internal conflict among the protoss that broke out on Aiur during the zerg invasion of their homeworld. It set Tassadar and his Dark Templar allies against the ruling Conclave, and it unfolded simultaneously with the Fall of Aiur. (StarCraft)
Origins of the schism#
The roots of the conflict reached back to the Aeon of Strife, the ancient age in which protoss cut off from their psychic link had fallen into madness and slaughtered one another. The memory of that horror shaped the Conclave's fear of the Dark Templar, who had severed their own connection to the Khala and been exiled for it. When the zerg invaded Aiur, Tassadar made common cause with the exiled Dark Templar, and with the new executor's forces he rescued Zeratul and his warriors from zerg captivity on Char. He came to believe their void-born powers were the key to destroying the Swarm. (StarCraft (manual); StarCraft)
War on Aiur#
Tassadar returned to Aiur with a band of Dark Templar, intending to turn their power against the zerg. This brought him into direct conflict with the Conclave and the Vanguard of Aiur. Upon his return, the portion of the Great Fleet under Tassadar and Artanis was branded as traitors and renegades, and the fleet turned on itself. The fighting cost the protoss Khor-shakal, the Heart of the Conclave, which Tassadar's forces and his Dark Templar allies broke through and destroyed. Refusing to allow any further bloodshed among his own people, Tassadar surrendered to Judicator Aldaris and was put on trial, though his fleet continued to fight and his followers eventually rescued him. (StarCraft)
End of the war#
The civil war reached its conclusion when Tassadar, the former executor turned high templar, channeled the combined energies of the templar and the Dark Templar to destroy the Overmind. The victory came at a terrible price. The infighting had crippled the protoss defense, and Aiur had already been devastated by the zerg even with the Overmind slain. In its aftermath the surviving protoss withdrew from their ruined homeworld to Shakuras, the Dark Templar homeworld. (StarCraft; StarCraft: Brood War)
Frequently asked questions
- What was the Protoss Civil War?
- The Protoss Civil War was an internal conflict among the protoss that broke out on Aiur during the zerg invasion of their homeworld. It set Tassadar and his Dark Templar allies against the ruling Conclave, and it unfolded simultaneously with the Fall of Aiur.
- Why did the Protoss Civil War start?
- The Conclave feared the Dark Templar, who had severed their own connection to the Khala and been exiled for it, a fear rooted in the memory of the Aeon of Strife. When Tassadar made common cause with the exiled Dark Templar and returned to Aiur with them, the Conclave branded him and Artanis as traitors and the Great Fleet turned on itself.
- What happened to Khor-shakal during the war?
- Khor-shakal, the crown city considered the jewel of Aiur, was destroyed by Tassadar and his Dark Templar allies during the fighting.
- How did the Protoss Civil War end?
- The war ended when Tassadar channeled the combined energies of the templar and the Dark Templar to destroy the Overmind. The victory came at a terrible price, as the infighting had crippled the protoss defense and Aiur had already been devastated by the zerg.
- What did the surviving protoss do after the war?
- In the aftermath, the surviving protoss withdrew from their ruined homeworld to Shakuras, the Dark Templar homeworld.
Sources
- GameStarCraft, Blizzard Entertainment, 1998
- GameStarCraft: Brood War, Blizzard Entertainment, 1998
- BookStarCraft (manual), Peter Underwood, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn, Blizzard Entertainment, 1998
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
Followed from this entry
Aeon of Strife
The Aeon of Strife was a millennia-long civil war among the protoss, called the bloodiest civil war in galactic history. It followed the departure of the xel'naga and the loss of the protoss psychic link, and ended when the scholar Khas rediscovered the khaydarin crystals and founded the Khala.
Fall of Aiur
The Fall of Aiur was the zerg invasion of the protoss homeworld during the Great War, fought at the same time as the Protoss Civil War. Tassadar destroyed the Overmind, but the Swarm had already claimed too much of Aiur, killing seventy percent of the protoss and forcing the survivors to abandon their world.
Aiur
Aiur was the homeworld of the protoss, a verdant world on the galactic fringe engineered by the Xel'Naga and seat of the Protoss Empire. It was overrun by the zerg in 2500 and reclaimed by the Daelaam after the defeat of Amon.
Aldaris: the judicator who saw the truth
A strict Khala believer who acted as the Conclave's hand against Tassadar. He died on Shakuras exposing Kerrigan's hold over Matriarch Raszagal.
Artanis
Artanis was the Hierarch of the Daelaam, a renowned warrior who rose from executor during the zerg invasion of Aiur to lead the reunited protoss. He forged the Khalai and Nerazim into one people, reclaimed Aiur, and led the alliance that banished Amon from the Khala.
Conclave: the elders who exiled the Nerazim
A small body of Judicator elders ruled the Protoss Empire from Aiur. They banished the Dark Templar, enslaved the Purifiers and tried Tassadar.
Mentioned in5 entries
Fall of Aiur
The Fall of Aiur was the zerg invasion of the protoss homeworld during the Great War, fought at the same time as the Protoss Civil War. Tassadar destroyed the Overmind, but the Swarm had already claimed too much of Aiur, killing seventy percent of the protoss and forcing the survivors to abandon their world.
Great Fleet
The Great Fleet was the principal military space force of the protoss, the fleet that carried their power across the stars. Built around the carrier and tended by the Auriga Tribe, it was shattered in the fall of Aiur and rebuilt over the wars that followed.
StarCraft Story Explained: StarCraft and Brood War
The whole story of the original StarCraft and its expansion, campaign by campaign. Mengsk betrays Kerrigan, the Overmind remakes her as the Queen of Blades, Tassadar dies killing it, and in Brood War Kerrigan beats everyone.
StarCraft Timeline: every major event from the xel'naga to the One-Day War
The full StarCraft chronology, from the xel'naga uplifting the protoss and the zerg to the peace that followed the End War. Events are grouped into ten eras, oldest first, with Gregorian years wherever the games and novels give one.
Tassadar: the templar who slew the Overmind
Tassadar refused the Conclave's order to wipe out humanity, learned Void energies from Zeratul, and rammed the Gantrithor into the Overmind above Aiur.
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